Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST.

Totals

Total revenue
$7,586,875
Total expenses
$12,244,953
Contributions and grants received
$6,748,588
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$9,086
Investment income
$444,793
Other revenue
$384,408
Total assets, end of year
$8,913,031
Total liabilities, end of year
$4,166,992
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$4,746,039
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$8,826,981
Management and general expenses
$2,429,159
Fundraising expenses
$988,813
Program service expenses (Part III)
$8,826,981

Program services were 72.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $352,990

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $2,054,667

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $4,340,931

  • 2a · Program service revenue: FEE FOR SERVICES

    total $9,086 · related or exempt $9,086

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $189,460 · excluded $189,460

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $6,464,704

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $6,209,371

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $255,333

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $255,333 · excluded $255,333

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $226,531

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $352,990

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $226,531

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $0

  • 11a · Other revenue: FELLOWSHIP INCOME

    total $309,000 · excluded $309,000

  • 11b · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $75,408 · excluded $75,408

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $384,408

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,887,128 · program services $1,179,048 · management and general $443,020 · fundraising $265,060

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $5,355,158 · program services $4,378,050 · management and general $591,757 · fundraising $385,351

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $98,511 · program services $76,120 · management and general $14,671 · fundraising $7,720

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $825,227 · program services $619,700 · management and general $133,823 · fundraising $71,704

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $551,650 · program services $405,792 · management and general $95,435 · fundraising $50,423

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $42,865 · management and general $42,865

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $61,000 · management and general $61,000

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $32,086 · management and general $32,086

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,062,746 · program services $593,175 · management and general $467,671 · fundraising $1,900

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $27,191 · program services $25,698 · management and general $1,493

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $235,578 · program services $168,180 · management and general $48,341 · fundraising $19,057

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $104,036 · program services $85,690 · management and general $10,350 · fundraising $7,996

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,099,077 · program services $866,600 · management and general $136,698 · fundraising $95,779

  • 17 · Travel

    total $123,416 · program services $76,026 · management and general $39,992 · fundraising $7,398

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $24,553 · program services $20,425 · management and general $4,128

  • 20 · Interest

    total $120,939 · management and general $120,939

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $91,855 · program services $72,505 · management and general $11,149 · fundraising $8,201

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $70,208 · program services $53,376 · management and general $16,832

  • 24a · Other expenses: ON-LINE SERVICES

    total $207,125 · program services $129,357 · management and general $24,419 · fundraising $53,349

  • 24b · Other expenses: RECRUITING

    total $73,706 · management and general $73,706

  • 24c · Other expenses: COPYING

    total $46,709 · program services $43,694 · management and general $1,636 · fundraising $1,379

  • 24d · Other expenses: BANK AND OTHER FEES

    total $38,451 · program services $6,901 · management and general $18,054 · fundraising $13,496

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $65,738 · program services $26,644 · management and general $39,094

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,256,311 · end of year $580,381

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $750,223 · end of year $4,753

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $6,407,496 · end of year $2,101,335

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $79,172 · end of year $99,874

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $174,656 · end of year $181,871

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $2,173,276

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $2,078,427

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $169,493 · end of year $94,849

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $4,655,426 · end of year $3,250,642

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $602,717 · end of year $637,411

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $2,801,246 · end of year $1,961,915

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,445,383 · end of year $661,425

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $2,778,490 · end of year $3,505,567

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,917,868 · end of year -$1,489,666

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $10,754,999 · end of year $6,235,705

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST IS AN INDEPENDENT, NON-PARTISAN, ADVOCACY AND ACTION ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS TO ADVANCE FREE AND EQUAL SOCIETIES. WE HOLD PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE, PROTECT PEOPLE FROM INJUSTICE, AND STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONS THAT SAFEGUARD UNIVERSAL RIGHTS. FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS, HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST HAS BUILT BIPARTISAN COALITIONS AND WORKED WITH LAWYERS AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS TO ADDRESS GLOBAL CHALLENGES. THE ORGANIZATION IS BASED IN NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, D.C., AND LOS ANGELES.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO EMPOWER AMERICANS TO WORK FOR JUSTICE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES AND AROUND THE WORLD.

  • POLICY AND LEGAL REPRESENTATIONHUMAN RIGHTS FIRST PROVIDES FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO REFUGEES SEEKING ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES. WORKING WITH A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF PRO BONO ATTORNEYS, THE ORGANIZATION SCREENS CASES, TRAINS LAWYERS, AND WORKS TO ENSURE THAT ASYLUM SEEKERS AND IMMIGRANTS HAVE ACCESS TO DUE PROCESS. IN 2024, HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST ASSISTED APPROXIMATELY 2,077 REFUGEES AND ASYLUM 1,327,951. ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM 83 COUNTRIES, SECURING PROTECTION FROM 382 CLIENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. IN ADDITION, VOLUNTEER LAWYERS CONTRIBUTED THAN 97,000 HOURS OF PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES. HRF ALSO CONNECTS CLIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND USES THIS EXPERIENCE TO PROVIDE DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS THAT STRENGTHEN FAIRNESS AND EFFICIENCY IN THE LEGAL PROCESS. THESE SERVICES PROTECT VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS FROM PERSECUTION AND ADVANCE THE RULE OF LAW IN THE UNITED STATES.

    Expenses $6,615,471

  • INNOVATION LABTHE INNOVATION LAB DEVELOPS TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS. KEY 2024 ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ENHANCING AI TOOLS TO IMPROVE HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATIONS AND DEVELOPING AI TOOLS TO TRACK LEGISLATION WITH HUMAN RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS.

    Expenses $1,327,951

  • ACCOUNTABILITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERSHUMAN RIGHTS FIRST PROMOTES ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CORRUPTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES BY INVESTIGATING, DOCUMENTING, AND EXPOSING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, THEN ADVOCATES FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE AT THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION ISSUED MAJOR REPORTS ON THE USE AND IMPACT OF MAGNITSKY-STYLE SANCTIONS AND VISA RESTRICTIONS AND PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN SANCTIONS IMPLEMENTATION AND ADDRESS GAPS. IN ADDITION, WE PUBLISHED REPORTS ON THE WORK OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN UKRAINE.

    Expenses $883,559 · Revenue $9,086

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Susan E Hendrickson

    PRESIDENT AND CEO

    Total calculated
    $161,913
    From this org
    $134,340
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $27,573
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $134,340
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $2,400
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,173
    Filer's total
    $161,913
  • Donald Francis Donovan

    CO-CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Lynda Clarizio

    CO-CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Matthew S Dontzin

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Lev A Sviridov

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Robert A Mandell

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Hassan Murphy

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Sanja Partalo

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Carlos Pascual

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Catherine Amirfar

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Cindy Simon Skjodt

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • David P Matthews

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Fiona Philip

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jay Carney

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jon Drimmer

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Krishna Omkar

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Brendan Condon

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mara Frankel Wallace

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Nithya Thadani

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mike Rozen

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Tom A Bernstein

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • William D Zabel

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Ben Morelli

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Alencia Johnson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Ben Jealous

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Gil Ha

    DIRECTOR THRU 4/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Elizabeth Bowyer

    DIRECTOR THRU 4/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Nat Kreamer

    DIRECTOR THRU 4/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Sarah Cleveland

    DIRECTOR THRU 4/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mona Sutphen

    DIRECTOR THRU 4/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Michael F Breen

    PRESIDENT AND CEO

    Total calculated
    $173,154
    From this org
    $155,681
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,473
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $155,681
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,817
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,656
    Filer's total
    $173,154
  • Kurt Pacquette

    SR VP, FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $182,016
    From this org
    $170,897
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,119
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $170,897
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $3,977
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,142
    Filer's total
    $182,016
  • Marc Tobias

    COO

    Total calculated
    $256,453
    From this org
    $224,655
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $31,798
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $224,655
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,379
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,419
    Filer's total
    $256,453
  • Laura Senkevitch

    DIRECTOR DONOR RELATIONS

    Total calculated
    $194,524
    From this org
    $179,343
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,181
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $179,343
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $3,641
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,540
    Filer's total
    $194,524
  • Eleanor Acer

    SENIOR DIRECTOR GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN PROTECTION

    Total calculated
    $204,406
    From this org
    $165,012
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $39,394
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $165,012
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,209
    Nontaxable benefits
    $34,185
    Filer's total
    $204,406
  • Perris Richter

    SENIOR DIRECTOR, INNOVATION LAB

    Total calculated
    $178,087
    From this org
    $161,732
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,355
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,732
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,933
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,422
    Filer's total
    $178,087
  • Jennifer Quigley

    VP, ADVOCACY

    Total calculated
    $177,790
    From this org
    $161,435
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,355
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,435
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,933
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,422
    Filer's total
    $177,790
  • Adam Keith

    SENIOR DIRECTOR ACCOUNTABILITY

    Total calculated
    $171,753
    From this org
    $156,232
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,521
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $156,232
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,766
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,755
    Filer's total
    $171,753
  • Robyn Barnard

    SENIOR DIRECTOR, REFUGEE ADVOCACY

    Total calculated
    $187,033
    From this org
    $150,669
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $36,364
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $150,669
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,763
    Nontaxable benefits
    $31,601
    Filer's total
    $187,033
  • Jenna Gilbert

    SENIOR DIRECTOR, REFUGEE REPRESENTATION

    Total calculated
    $155,833
    From this org
    $149,917
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,916
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $149,917
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,495
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,421
    Filer's total
    $155,833
  • Jason Long

    TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, INNOVATION LAB

    Total calculated
    $152,864
    From this org
    $124,681
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,183
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $124,681
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $3,986
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,197
    Filer's total
    $152,864
  • Anwen Hughes

    SENIOR DIRECTOR LEGAL SERVICES

    Total calculated
    $145,348
    From this org
    $129,595
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,753
    Hours/week
    37.5
  • Quentin Hines

    CHIEF OF STAFF

    Total calculated
    $144,357
    From this org
    $138,111
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,246
    Hours/week
    37.5
  • Licha Nyiendo

    CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $147,176
    From this org
    $135,380
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,796
    Hours/week
    37.5

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment

Answered no

  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 4A
KURT PACQUETTE, SR VP, FINANCE RECEIVED A SEVERANCE PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,091

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
11 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202503159349302030

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.